Millions of years ago when our ancestors stood on the edge of a diminishing, threatened habitat and looked into the vast terrain that became Africa, the first sparks of "hope" were ignited in humanity. It was hope that reinforced our courage to embrace change, move forward and overcome danger. One may argue that even before tool making and the invention of fire and language, hope is what gave humanity an edge to survive and thrive in circumstances which ninety-eight percent of everything living succumbs to extinction.
Modern civilization was nurtured by hope in the power of humankind to affect humanity. It was hope that elevated us to the peaks of our individual and collective accomplishments and it was hope that fueled our perseverance to overcome the natural and self-inflicted devastations that plagued us throughout history. Hope is an integral ingredient of being human.
Tirgan 2013 is dedicated to "hope." A festival of hope with which we celebrate the art and culture that keeps us hopeful in the power of humanity to persevere, overcome and survive. Throughout history, Iranians have had their share of natural and self-inflicted devastations, yet there is no more powerful indication of our hopefulness than our artistic and cultural heritage. Pluralism, diversity and the ability to embrace change is engrained in the Iranian psyche from the beginning of civilization. These foundational traits are most evidently crystallized in Iranian contemporary arts.
Just like our ancestors at the beginning of time, and throughout history during the peaks and valleys of civilization, Iranian artists have stood at the edge of threatened habitats and reached for the future with hope. Hope that the power of art and culture can shatter the thin but persistent layer of discrimination, injustice and brutality and expose the glowing core of beauty.
Iranian women have contributed equally, yet without equal opportunity, to the cultural mosaic that defined our identity. Iranian contemporary arts are shaped, in part, by members of our society whose voices are often unheard, whose image was taboo and whose legal standing was half of their male counterparts. Hope is nowhere more tangible than in the artistic landscape of a terrain called Iran. A landscape in which monuments of artistic and cultural accomplishment were also erected by women who shattered the immense burden imposed upon them by the man-made devastations that could only be overcome by hope.
Tirgan 2013 celebrates this hope by showcasing the best of what defines us as human beings who happen to be born in a certain terrain, which was reached by our hopeful ancestors who found the courage to defy extinction and reach for the future.
Babak Payami, Artistic Director
Harbourfront Centre Staff
Chief Executive Officer
Director, Community and Educational Programmes
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Head of Administration
Lead Artistic Associate
Administrative Coordinator
Administrative Assistant, Events
Administrative Assistant
Event Production Manager
Technical Director
Production Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
Vendor Coordinator
Vendor Assistant
TIRGAN STAFF
Chief Executive Officer
Artistic Program Director
Marketing and Sales Director
Operations Director
Public Relations Director
Social Networks Coordinator
Tirgan Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Vendor Manager
Guests & Dignitaries Coordinator
IOS Programmer
Sales Manager, Artistic Program Coordination
Affiliates Coordinator
Artistic Program Coordinator + Information Booth Coordinator
Production Coordinator
Graphic Designer
E-Newsletter Coordinator
Liaison Coordinator
Client Services Manager
Event Manager
Zone Leaders Coordinator
Venue Management
Weblog Coordinator
Proofreading Coordinator
Event Ticketing Manager
Video Production Coordinator
Community Outreach Coordinator
Information System Manager
Accounting Manager
Editorials & Translation Manager
Media Sponsorship Coordinator
Guest Reception Manager
Production Coordinator
Guest Services Coordinator
Artistic Program Coordinator + Grant Manager
Public Assistant Coordinator
Translation Coordinator
Media Relations Manager
Artistic Administration Manager
Logistics Manager
Writing Coordinator
Internal Communication Coordination
Volunteer Coordinator
Marketing & Sales Administrator
Fundrasing Manager
Lead Graphic Designer
Marketing Manager
Administration Manager
Site Operation Manager
Public Affairs Manager
Operations Assistant
Media Coverage Coordinator
Advertisement/Print Manager
Program Coordination
Graphic Designer
Transportation Coordinator